MACHESNEY PARK — Have you noticed the TV sets, computer monitors and other electronics left alongside the empty garbage bins on trash day?

A law that went into effect Jan. 1, 2012, made it illegal for residents to dump electronics in the trash and for landfills to accept such waste. Despite the law, electronic waste still ends up curbside from time to time.

“I see that myself frequently, where there will be an item sitting at the curb left after the garbage has been picked up,” said Lori Gummow, executive director of the nonprofit Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. “That’s a result of, either they’re not aware of the law or they’re not interested in doing the right thing.”

Now you are, and now you can.

KNIB will offer an extra place to dispose of electronic waste this weekend: the spring metals and electronics drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the south parking lot of the former Machesney Park Mall, 8750 N. Second St.

What’s collected: Scrap metals, large and small appliances, tools and fencing. All electronics except TVs.

What to do with old TVs: American TV and Best Buy in Rockford accept them for recycling.

Popularity: More than 1,000 people dropped off electronic waste for recycling during a six-hour period at Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful’s last drive in October.

The law is meant to protect groundwater from potential hazardous materials — lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and others— that could pose environmental and health risks if not managed. The Electronic Products Recycling and Reuse Act estimates that 3 million tons of electronic products became obsolete in 2007 but only 14 percent was recycled.

Residents have for the most part, responded to the law change, said John Lichty, president and CEO of landfill-owner Rock River Environmental Services. Rock River Disposal, a subsidiary of RRES, collects from 160,000 Rockford-area residences each week.

“It’s not a measurable amount,” he said. “The head of our customer service department estimated this morning we receive 10 to 20 calls a week regarding e-waste.”

Jim Horning, vice president of operations for Behr Iron & Metals, a registered e-waste collection site, said his company has more electronics, 20 to 25 percent, coming into the site since the law was enacted.